The Cheltenham Festival is best known for the roar of the crowd, the drama on the track and four days of top-class jump racing.
But while the horses grab the headlines, there’s another massive operation taking place behind the scenes – feeding and supplying refreshments for the quarter of a million visitors.
The scale of food and drink consumed during the festival is incredible and figures from the Jockey Club show just how big the event really is.
Let’s start with the drinks.
With the festival taking place in March, it’s no surprise that hot drinks are a must for racegoers trying to stay warm between races.
Across the four days, around 8,000 gallons of tea and coffee are served, the equivalent of roughly 145,000 cups.
Of course, the drink most closely associated with the festival is Guinness.
With so many Irish runners, trainers and fans crossing the channel for the week, the famous stout is in hot demand around the racecourse bars. Across the four days, racegoers get through around 265,000 pints of Guinness, making it the biggest seller at Cheltenham.
Food-wise, the numbers are just as impressive. Potatoes are one of the staples of race week, with around nine tonnes cooked and served during the festival.
Seafood is also a major part of the hospitality offering. Around five tonnes of smoked and fresh salmon are eaten during the four days, particularly in hospitality restaurants and premium dining areas.
Another classic race-day option is afternoon tea. Throughout the festival, roughly 45,000 afternoon teas are served, giving guests the chance to enjoy sandwiches, cakes and pastries while taking a break from the racing.
Bread is another essential item with racegoers getting through an estimated 45,000 bread rolls during the week, often filled with roast meats, smoked salmon or other hot food options.
And it doesn’t stop there. The catering team also serves around five tonnes of cheese, much of it produced within 50 miles of the racecourse, alongside around two tonnes of smoked trout.
When you consider that more than 250,000 visitors attend across the four days, it’s easy to see why the numbers are eyewatering.
The Cheltenham Festival might be famous for the racing, but the huge scale of the food and drink provision is just as impressive, helping keep racegoers fuelled for four unforgettable days.
The Cheltenham Festival 2026 runs from Tuesday, March 10 to Friday, March 13.
